Overview & Reviews

A relative newcomer to the American marketplace, Hyundai is a Korean automaker with a product line that has improved greatly over the past decade. Hyundai cars and SUVs provide a high level of content for an affordable price, and are currently backed by one of the industry's longest warranties.

In 1947, Chung Ju Yung founded the Hyundai Civil Engineering Company. Mere months later, the outfit was bombed in the Korean War. However, the company regained its footing to distinguish itself as one of Korea's leading construction enterprises during the 1950s.

By the late 1960s, Chung had turned his attention to the automobile industry. The Korean government at that time believed that it made more sense to import vehicles than produce them domestically, and had made its opinion known. Still, Chung opted to follow his own convictions, and in 1967, he founded the Hyundai Motor Company.

The company quickly established an alliance with one of the industry's oldest automakers, signing a two-year contract with Ford in 1968 to share assembly technology. Hyundai's first car, the Cortina, was created from that partnership. The manufacturer's first car to be designed and built in Korea was the compact Pony (although the car was based on Japanese technology courtesy of Mitsubishi). The vehicle made its debut in 1974, and the following year Hyundai began exporting it to overseas markets.

Hyundai entered the U.S. market in 1986 with the introduction of its subcompact Excel. The car was an immediate hit, with its supreme affordability being a primary selling point. More than 100,000 Excels were sold stateside in the first seven months. By 1988, Hyundai had begun to produce cars using its own technology. The midsize Sonata was the first fruit borne of this endeavor.

Unfortunately, Hyundai's nascent image was soon tarnished by the poor durability and reliability of its vehicles. Sales tanked. However, rather than abandon the American market in the '90s, Hyundai chose to invest heavily in new product designs and improvements in overall quality and reliability. In 1998, Hyundai also purchased Kia, another Korean automaker, to expand its business and economies of scale.

It all started to pay off by the start of the new millennium, with the 2001 Elantra in particular showing massive improvements in overall quality, reliability and performance. Other models followed suit and the desirability of Hyundai cars increased sharply. Providing an extraordinarily long warranty period didn't hurt either.

Today's lineup is indicative of Hyundai's complete turnaround. Hyundai has a vehicle for nearly every segment, including the economical Accent subcompact, the popular Elantra compact, the midsize Sonata sedan (also available as a hybrid), sporty Genesis and Veloster coupes and a couple of stylish SUVs. Hyundai has also expanded into the entry-level and premium-level luxury sedan markets with its Genesis and Equus sedans. Having gone from being the butt of late-night TV jokes in the 1980s to a well-respected manufacturer of quality vehicles, Hyundai has created a very inspiring rags-to-riches story.

User Reviews:

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  Question on cargo area - 2002 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By cargo man - August 16 - 10:00 am

  Can you help? I noticed the rear seats do not fold down flat leaving a significant angle to that portion of the cargo area. Is that normal? Im still in the shopping stage and this concerns me. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

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  First Hyndia gave up Pilot - 2011 Hyundai Sonata
  By PUDGIEBIRD - August 16 - 4:20 am

  Bought this car two months ago and I love it. I purchased the limited. My kids state I love the car more then them. The 400 watt stereo blows my ears away. The bluetooth/navaigation is a great feature. I enjoy my driving time to work. So much for all the cost of fueling my ex Honda Pilot. I am saving alot of money every week. Great car. I never thought I would try Hyndai, but so many of my friends have been bragging about their cars for years. I am glad I did.

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  Never again - 1997 Hyundai Accent
  By almerinda00 - August 16 - 2:00 am

  Nothing but problems. This car really put a bad taste in my mouth toward all Hyundai vehicles. I would never buy another one.

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  Great little car! - 2010 Hyundai Elantra Touring
  By casecalldiva - August 15 - 7:10 am

  We needed a safe & reliable car for a long commute, and this is a great car for that. The back seat is filled with 2 car seats and my kids love putting their juice in the drop-down drink holder, good gas mileage (approx 24mpg for LA city driving), great audio system with XM a must for time spent in the car. The bluetooth is great but its a hassle to have to add everyone into their phonebook for voice dialing. Very peppy engine & you have to watch your speed because you cant even feel how fast you going due to the lightness of the car. Large cargo - easily holds our large double stroller. Great sporty red color; wish lights & door locks were automatic. Totally recommend this car!

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  A tank of a car! - 2000 Hyundai Elantra
  By Mark Ox - August 15 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car because it was the largest in its class, most HP, and lowest price with the best waranty. The car has been great, very quick, MPG, and you can not break it. Every morning it just starts right up and goes. The perfect econo wagon!

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  2000 Elantra - 2000 Hyundai Elantra
  By grapejuice - August 15 - 2:00 am

  This a been one of the most trouble free cars I have ever owned. I have had warrannty service performed on two different occasions by a dealership other than where I bought the car. Both times I was treated as if I had bought ten cars form them. Service has been excellent. The only complaint I have is that the paint is not holding up and Hyndai doent want to do anything about it. Gas milage is not what I expected in a small car with a for cylinder engine.

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  Good style - 2001 Hyundai Sonata
  By JayJay - August 15 - 2:00 am

  Good quality, excellent service

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  LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!! - 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By Britt - August 14 - 11:50 pm

  I just bought my Santa Fe a few days ago and I cant stop smiling. I ruled the car out in the beginning of my SUV search because I didnt know the body style had changed this year. Originally went to look at the VeraCruz and quickly changed my mind. The 2007 Santa Fe is beautiful! The interior for the price is really what got me. I love the blue lights, touch of chrome, and wood accents. The dual climate control is awesome because I can be freezing when my boyfriends hot. I looked at every SUV out there: Mitsubishis, Hondas, Nissans, Toyotas, Jeeps. You name it, I looked into it. The Santa Fe was the first car I didnt have a single complaint about. I cant stop smiling when Im driving it!

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  would buy again - 2005 Hyundai TUCSON
  By jvanourek - August 14 - 9:03 pm

  very pleased had vehicle over 2 years only problem was small lite out on shift console -had numerus ford products 17 they cant compare!!

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  BRING BACK THE 05 - 2006 Hyundai Sonata
  By bring back 05 - August 14 - 9:10 am

  Personally I loved the 2005 sonata.I am a couriour and drive over 350000 miles a year.The 2005 gave me very few problems and was comfortable and easy to drive. The 2006 is still easy to drive however hyundai got rid of the more classy look that the sonata had.They gave it a sport look trying to copy honda instead of jaguar. The seats make your back hurt when u drive alot and the armrest in the middle will make your shoulder hurt.The armrest also has a spring in it that makes it a pain to closse when your driving.The transmission slips all the time and i think there may be a recall later on.I also think there may be a recall on the shift lever because it will slip out of park with littlpressr